We know you might be looking to make better choices this season, buy well-made things, and consume a little less. But, no matter what your spring plans are, you’ll want to make sure you feel confident, both in how you look and in the longevity of your clothing. When you choose high-quality, versatile pieces that can be worn again and again, you’ll find greater confidence.

This season, we’ve struck a balance between that versatility and hitting all the key trends for SS23. Read on to learn more about those trends, and how Moss’ latest collection is made for your life, however it looks right now.

After a dreary winter, putting on a bright, light colour can instantly make you feel refreshed and ready for the new season. Pale blue is that colour for SS23. Particularly for a special occasion, consider a pastel blue suit instead of your usual grey. Same goes for the office. For weekends or more relaxed settings, opt for pastel blue shorts and a soft blue linen shirt.

Sleeves are overrated, and our new sweater vest proves that. All over the season’s menswear runways from Kenzo to Brunello Cucinelli, sleeveless knitwear is set for a big comeback this spring. Layer it over a T-shirt, wear it under a blazer, or wear it on its own if you’re feeling extra adventurous.

Sometimes, you have to go back to the basics. For SS23, that basic is a tie. Of course, a tie always looks great with a three-piece suit and a pocket square for a wedding. But try wearing one with a more causal outfit at the weekend to really capitalise on this resurgence.

If dark colours are for winter, a bold print is for spring. Our favourite is this retro-inspired one, and we’ve got it in several colours this season, each one printed at an Italian mill. Whether you wear a printed shirt with plain chinos or shorts, under a lounge suit for a beach wedding, or with another, contrasting print, you’ll love how it instantly adds personality to any outfit.

Our Cuban-collar shirts are always a favourite come spring. But this year, we’ve gone for more open knits for extra breeziness and tonal stripes to play off the incoming monochromatic trend. Wear them with pleat-front trousers for a ’50s off-duty look, or with shorts on a beach holiday.

Shorts aren’t always a runway favourite for menswear, but this year, it was a different story. With brands like Prada, Ami and Wales Bonner showing shorts in varying lengths and fabrics, you can bet they’ll be a staple this spring. Wear them with knitwear while the weather’s still a bit chilly and a polo shirt when the heat sets in.

Whatever you add to your wardrobe for SS23, we encourage you to make considered choices. Ask yourself if you can picture wearing the item to more than three events in the next six months. Think about whether the item goes with at least five other pieces in your wardrobe. And most of all, make sure you really love it and feel great when you’re wearing it.

First up, comfort is key. You’re going to be on your feet all day, taking photos, greeting people and dancing, so you’ll want to make sure you’re not dying to kick them off come the wedding breakfast. A big part of that is breaking your shoes in, but you’ll also want to make sure the fit is right, they’re not too narrow or wide, and they have a decent grip.

The second most important thing is that you’ll wear them again. Getting a really fun colour or adventurous shoe might seem like a fun idea, but you’ll feel like you made a better investment if you choose something that not only works with your wedding suit, but several other outfits you already have in your wardrobe.

Patent leather loafers

If your wedding is black tie, this is the shoe for you. Patent leather is a must when it comes to dresswear, and the loafer trend from last year isn’t going anywhere for 2023. Even if you’re not wearing a tuxedo, these would look great with just about any black or dark-coloured suit. Just think carefully about wearing them with a lighter suit as they might become the focal point if you don’t have any other black or dark-coloured accessories.

Double monk-strap shoes

Monk-strap shoes, which take their name from their similarity to the kinds of shoes 15th century monks wore, are a great choice. Unlike a typical brogue or Oxford shoe, you get a more sleek look, and a bit of extra visual interest thanks to the buckles. These double-monk straps, with two buckles instead of just one, are ideal for light coloured and lightweight suits, which makes them perfect for a destination or high-summer wedding.

Classic brogue shoes

If you’re going for a classic groom look with a three-piece suit, tie and pocket square, a classic brogue shoe will finish that off nicely. The beauty of this slightly more pared-back version of an Oxford is its wearability. It’ll work just as well in a smart-casual setting as it will in a more formal one. Its reddish brown shade means it’ll go with just about anything in your wardrobe, too.

Pared-back Oxford shoes

Looking for a shoe that’s subtle and super wearable? You just found it in this refined Oxford shoe. If you’re wearing lots of bright colours or a patterned suit and you want to let it do the talking, a sleek, simple shoe like this one will achieve that. And, if you want to go for the tonal look and pair these shoes with several other shades of brown, we also support that.

No matter what shoes you choose, make sure they fit well, suit your style, and you love wearing them. Most of all, make sure you wear them a few times around the house with the socks you’re planning to wear on the day.

Tonal dressing means wearing colours from the same colour family head to toe. It’s easiest to do with more neutral colours like browns and greys, but you can also achieve it with bright hues like blues and reds. No matter what colour family you choose, you build your outfit by mixing and matching shades that fall into that family.

We recommend starting with a colour you already have in your wardrobe. Chances are, you’ve got a pair of beige or grey trousers, a grey jumper or even a neutral-toned suit. Start with one of those pieces, then build your look from there with a new item or accessories in that same colour family.

How can I make tonal dressing work for the office?

The great thing about tonal dressing is that it makes that coveted subtle statement. You’ll look like you put some effort into your outfit, but never like you tried too hard. If you choose a navy suit, wear it with a lighter blue tie, a light blue shirt and even navy shoes. If you’re going for a taupe suit, pick a darker brown tie, and brown shoes. You can always stick with a white shirt if you’re more comfortable, as long as any colour you add into the mix fits within that main colour family you’ve chosen.

How can I make tonal dressing work at the weekend?

Tonal dressing doesn’t mean you can’t work with a pattern. This checked overshirt, for example, gives you the option to go with browns, greys or whites, or even bend the rules a bit and mix in a few different things. Either way, you’ll get a cohesive look that’s not too matchy-matchy, but still looks considered. That’s ideal for a weekend spent relaxing, or even a city mini break.

That brings us to another benefit of tonal dressing: it can make packing a breeze. If everything’s in the same tone, it’ll all go together no matter which pieces you decide to pair.

What are some staple pieces I need for tonal dressing?

In the same way tonal dressing makes packing a breeze, it can also be a great way to start building a capsule wardrobe. Again, because you’ll have pieces in the same colour family or tone, everything in your wardrobe will go together, maximising the amount of outfits you can build. A jacket you can layer, a neutral T-shirt, or joggers you can dress up or down are all great pieces to start with.

How can I make tonal dressing work as a groom?

Of course, we love to apply this concept to a groom outfit. Combining tonal dressing with another big trend this year – all-black, head to toe – and you get this super unique suiting look that makes another subtle statement. Particularly great for a wedding in the city, choosing all-black is edgy and romantic. Go for it if that’s your vibe.

Sustainable fashion usually means clothes and accessories that have been made in a way that’s better for the world around us. This could mean using recycled materials to reduce waste, using less water, reducing the use of harmful chemicals or using less energy in the process of making and shipping clothing.

Sustainability is important to help the planet, conserve natural resources and ensure there’s minimal waste. It’s about making smarter choices with your wardrobe so having great style doesn’t cost us the Earth.

At Moss, we’ve introduced The Eco Collection. It focuses on suits made from entirely recyclable or renewable materials along with Earth-friendly materials like organic cotton, TENCEL™ and merino wool.

How to make your wardrobe more sustainable

Making your wardrobe more sustainable doesn’t need to feel like hard work. It only takes a few steps and some conscious thinking to get what you need. Here’s how you can make some changes to the way you buy, wear and care for your clothing to help the world around us:

Invest in high-quality pieces

Sometimes it isn’t about buying more for less. By investing in high-quality clothing and being more conscious about the pieces that you buy, you’ll find that your clothing lasts longer. By choosing classic styles in great cuts and fabrics, you’ll be able to mix and match with seasonal trends to keep your look current, even if you’ve worn the same pieces for a while.

Choose sustainable fashion pieces

Make the effort to choose sustainable fashion pieces. For example, our Eco Suits are made out of recycled polyester and with recycled water that’s free from chemicals. We’ve also used natural fabrics like cotton, hemp or linen that can be produced more sustainably than other types of material.

Reducing the amount of water and energy it takes to make your items can make a difference, too, and often sustainable clothing will be made from organic materials that are grown and created more ethically.

Repair and reuse

Following your care instructions, washing at lower temperatures and storing your clothing correctly can all help it last longer, making it a more sustainable choice in the long run. Learning how to repair clothing rather than throwing it away or repurchasing can save you money as well as leading to less clothing in landfill over time.

Repurpose clothing that’s become worn out or past repair by wearing it for other things where you don’t need to look as fresh and pressed. You’d be surprised at how much more life there can be in clothing when you rethink how it’s used.

Recycle and donate

Had enough of clothing that’s still in good condition? You can resell, recycle or donate your clothing so that someone else can wear and enjoy it. Even seeing if friends or family want to wear it can help clothing and accessories get a new lease of life. This helps to reduce the cycle of buying brand new clothing and throwing away fashion items that can still be used.

It also can help people who are trying to make more ethical choices with how they buy their clothes, or they choose to buy pre-loved items because of their personal taste and budget.

Hire rather than buy

If you’re thinking about going for something completely different to what you’d usually wear or it’s a one-off special occasion, hiring can be a smart option. It will save you money and space while helping you be more sustainable about your fashion choices.

Lots of people hire wedding suits to save on costs, or to avoid buying something they only plan to wear once. This can be the case for formal events, too. If you don’t go to them that often, or you don’t often wear a suit, then it can make way more sense to hire your outfit. Another option is to rent your wardrobe with a service like Moss Box.

Whether you’ve been together for the long haul or it’s fresh and new, heading on a date can be a great way to get to know one another a little better, and spend some quality time doing something that you wouldn’t usually do.

Dinner and drinks

Dinner and drinks is a classic date night you can make exactly what you want it to be. You can choose to go somewhere romantic and intimate, somewhere new and exciting, or somewhere that’s casual and laid back. It depends on what you’re looking for, but no matter where you choose, we recommend you book a table ahead of time.

Depending on where you go, opting for something smart-casual is usually a good option. Think chinos, a shirt, and smart trainers or boots as a safe bet for dinner and drinks. Then, you can use your judgement if you want to go smarter or more casual based on the venue.

Concert

So you’ve booked the tickets, made your travel arrangements and sorted out where you’re going to grab some food or a drink ahead of the concert. Now it’s time to plan what you’re going to wear. Depending on who you’re going to see, and the vibe, you can usually be a little more relaxed at a concert or a gig. Try a pair of smart joggers paired with a fitted T-shirt and a shacket over the top.

That way you can layer up (or down) depending on how hot the venue’s getting, but you won’t be too chilly on the way home. It is February, after all.

Wine tasting

Add a touch of sophistication to your Valentine’s Day with an activity like wine tasting. Go a little dressier for this one in a blazer, shirt, chinos, and smart shoes. Even a more relaxed suit with a roll-neck jumper can be a good look for wine tasting. Just steer clear of anything too white or lighter coloured in case you encounter any spillages.

Cooking at home

You can definitely have fun with this one and make it as relaxed or as casual as you want it to be. You can go full effort with a smart three-piece suit and bring the glamour home, or you can really relax and just wear what you’d normally wear to hang out at home. The same goes for if you order in rather than cooking yourself.

SHOP MENSWEAR AT MOSS

Famous for its market and black pudding, Bury’s also in first place when it comes to the number of searches for Valentine’s Day date ideas and Valentine’s Day events, plus second place for searching out the most romantic bars and restaurants to spend 14 February.

For the highest number of romantic restaurants, of bars and pubs, central Manchester leads the way with over 700 to choose from. According to Tripadvisor reviewers, the most romantic city centre restaurants to head for are Vincenzo Trattoria, No 4. Dine & Wine, and Street Urchin. All offer online booking for easy Valentine’s planning.

Manchester claimed second spot as the most romantic location in the region, with Bolton coming in at third place. Bolton also has the second highest number of pubs after Manchester city centre and is one of the places with the most searches for romantic restaurants.

The areas of Manchester that are lower on romance

At the other end of the scale, the areas with the least number of romance-related searches and the fewest places are Stockport, Oldham and Wigan. It’s not all bad news and romance doesn’t have to be dead if you live in these areas. It might just mean you’re more likely to get a table for food or drinks on Valentine’s Day if you head that way.

Or if you don’t really do Valentine’s Day, which 24% of people in the UK don’t, then hanging out in these three areas might mean that Cupid stays out of your way.

Rochdale and Salford sit in the middle of the table, suggesting that if you’re relaxed with your approach to romance these are the places to head.

Gifts to expect on Valentine’s Day

Just 13% of UK men expected to get dinner at a restaurant as a gift for Valentine’s Day in 2021. Far more expected a gift card, money or electronics last year. It’s estimated that in the UK, as much as £1.37 billion could be spent on Valentine’s Day this year.

Looking for the right outfit to set the mood this Valentine’s Day? Head to Moss Manchester for an outfit to suit any occasion, wherever you’re spending it and whoever you’re spending it with.